From today's Detroit News:   Ford Motor Co. on Friday said it has added a former General Motors Co. executive to lead its product development, among a number of other executive changes. Jim Baumbick, vice president of advanced product development, cycle planning and program, will lead the strategic direction of Ford Europe as its president starting Nov. 1. Replacing him on Oct. 13 is Sam Basile, GM's former vice president of global product programs. Additionally, Bryce Currie, vice president of manufacturing for the Americas, takes on an expanded role covering global manufacturing and safety as chief manufacturing officer. Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue and Model e, also will add luxury brand Lincoln's global retail business to his responsibilities, though Lincoln President Joaquin Nuño-Whelan will continue in his role and report to Frick.

https://youtu.be/CPtx-Ox9Pxc?si=BZBaHO9ny8RXrADR

What was strange back then? Was it was the best-selling non-tesla EV in the United States before it was discontinued?. And was a reasonably good seller back then. The new one should pick up where the old one left off. 

The pop-up roof looks to me fairly small and probably only meant to provide enough headroom to sit while camping with rear seat folded flat to allow sleeping in back.  I would guess that if an adult was on an air mattress in back, even a thin one, that there would not be enough headroom to sit upright without the pop-up’s height extension.  Not a bad idea as long as it doesn’t leak or cause noise.  

Couldn't agree more, hopefully this is a wake up call. I hope Ford realizes it's not a monolith, some customers really want the lastest tech, and others want a more traditional experience. For instance, the next gen mustang should focus more on style, performance, and bringing the price down, hopefully significantly, instead of being loaded with tech like the s650. But a lot of their Lincoln products should be a tech powerhouse. 

I see it selling maybe around 1,000 units a month.

They have to be careful with pricing but having an enclosed body  definitely feels necessary for this type of vehicle. They just can't price it like a G-wagon or anything like that. 70-90 grand seems like the price range that makes the most sense. Anything more than that from an unknown off-roader seems…bold to say the least.I do think, if done correctly, it will sell really well. There is definitely a demand for off-roaders.

Ford EV Strategy Does Not Currently Include Solid State Batteries   According to Automotive News, there are currently “no plans for production of solid state batteries in the near future,” news that comes directly from Alvaro Masias, a battery research manager at The Blue Oval. However, Ford is apparently still interested in solid state battery technology, and will continue to explore its potential use in future models, regardless. “It’s a possible future technology,” Masias said.

China’s EV Boom Has a Dark Side: Thousands of Dealerships Are Shutting Down - Autoblog   China’s auto dealers are facing their toughest moment in decades as the rapid shift to electric vehicles, overcapacity, and intense price wars squeeze profits to the brink. Once a vital link between automakers and consumers, the country’s 4S dealerships (sales, service, spare parts, and surveys) are closing in record numbers. According to Bloomberg, industry analysts estimate that more than 8,000 outlets have shuttered since 2020, with thousands more at risk of collapsing in the next year. The pain stems from a perfect storm of industry change. Chinese automakers have ramped up EV production faster than demand can absorb, leading to deep discounting. Major brands, from BYD to Geely, continue slashing prices to hold market share, echoing the turmoil seen in Europe. The result for them is thinner margins, higher inventory costs, and a growing wave of dealer bankruptcies.   Overproduction has made matters worse. With nearly 200 domestic carmakers competing for buyers, China’s EV market is oversaturated. Fierce undercutting has turned new-car retail into a zero-sum game. Many smaller dealerships are now forced to sell cars below cost just to meet factory quotas and hold onto franchise rights. Even as China pushes to lead the world in electric mobility, the financial toll on its dealer network is mounting. The government has hinted at measures to stabilize the sector, but analysts warn that consolidation is inevitable. The country’s EV boom has produced extraordinary technological progress, from luxury overlanders like Ford’s Basecamp to extreme performance machines, yet it’s also reshaping an industry that has relied on decades of dealership infrastructure.

So take it with a grain of salt, because it flies in the face of his comments just a few weeks ago of next to no future plans, but here's some Borg info.....     FWIW, Lincoln does indeed have a CE1 SUV planned, along with an SUV based on Bronco. So that joins the planned Navigator EREV. I don't really see signs of the 3-Row EREV at Lincoln so I'm not sure what the status is on that. Just to speculate, it could indicate that it's Ford only and the Explorer/Aviator duo will remain as rumored.   Whelp....like everything else at Lincoln, stick a pin in it. But if they are planning a new model name, a Lincoln G-Wagon sure would be one. I kinda get it, but man that's going to be a big swing for them. Might be a sign of things to come with the new management team. I think a more appropriate analog for Lincoln would be a Lincoln Defender....since they like Land Rover style so much (funny how they never adopted Land Rover off-roading). But a Bronco Lincoln would seemingly require a significantly re-worked top-hat to enclose the cab...unless they don't? And what about the whole "Quiet Flight" mantra...not going to get that from this. This might explain why Ford bailed on the Bronco Ultra they were working on. Anyway, Lincoln might have a fun future after all, although as a Lincoln customer I really want a sleek EV crossover, not...the opposite. Hopefully that CE1 EV is a decent size like Nautilus, but I suspect it will have a true SUV profile instead to move Lincoln away from the boring crossovers Farley hates.   ----   Interesting that they are apparently considering a Lincoln Bronco......as you point out, they're going to have to do a fair amount of work to differentiate it properly from Bronco - namely a fully enclosed body.....I find it hard to believe that they'd keep the removable roof for it, though I'd have to imagine that that would significantly reduce development costs by keeping the existing roll cage setup?